Arroyo: President Duterte is a much stronger leader than I am

''President Duterte is a much stronger leader than I am so if I could handle them, he can handle them even better."

This was the statement of former PH President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during a press briefing on Monday.

Ex-president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Arroyo on Monday expressed her support of Duterte's declaration of ''state of lawlessness'' after the Davao City explosion last Friday.

Duterte is in the best position to declare a state of lawlessness to terminate all terror moves in the country, Arroyo said.

Arroyo believes that authorities would not abuse their power, amid concerns that the situation will be used as an excuse to violate human rights.

''I did not experience them being abusive, and I don’t think they will be abusive now,'' Arroyo said in a press briefing.

Photo by ABS-CBN news

In 2003, Arroyo also placed Davao City under a "state of lawlessness" after several attacks on the international airport and Sasa wharf left more than two dozen people killed.

MUST READ: Koko on Duterte’s state of lawlessness: Let’s trust the President, he knows better than all of us

The declaration was provided for under the 1987 Constitution, said Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella. 

Abella quoted Article VII, Section 18 of the charter, which read: "The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion."

Duterte said the declaration would be in place until he feels that everyone "is already safe" from the threat of terrorism and narcotics.

Source: ABS-CBN News

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